Patricia Earle

Patricia's Story

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Pat Earle embarked on her greatest adventure yet when her spirit left her body early in the morning of October 28, 2017 after several years of slowly declining health.
She was married to Ken Earle, the father of her children for thirty-one years and John Brady for the past twenty-seven years. She is survived by her husband, John Brady of Mankato, five children; Daune Stinson, Glenn (Traci) Earle, Heather Earle, Hilary Kruger and Brian (Erin) Earle. She also left a stepdaughter, Alicia Brady, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her mother and father, son-in-law Tracy and grandson Alec.
She was born Patricia Alice Felsted in New Haven Connecticut and spent her formative years living in greater New York City. There, she read the Lovelace books about Betsy and Tacy only to ultimately live on Bradley Street a mere stone's throw from the Candy Store cited in the Betsy-Tacy series. She attended Lennox Hill Hospital School of Nursing in the city and has worked as a nurse her entire adult life amidst raising her children. She always regarded herself as one of the most fortunate people in the world, because she loved being a nurse and was able to do the work she loved. Her nursing career evolved with her achieving a PhD. in nursing education administration from the University of Minnesota. Pat was an instructor in the School of Nursing at Minnesota State University Mankato and retired after twenty-four years in 2006 as an Associate Professor. Long after her teaching career ended, she would encounter former nursing students who would always speak so highly of her service as their instructor. Her nursing career did not end at that time, as she continued being the loving care giver she was. She worked with the migrant health service, One to One Clinic and the Open Door Health Center. Pat was one of the visionaries and served on the original board which resulted in the Open Door serving the under privileged. She later served on the board of the Committee Against Domestic Violence.
She loved to travel with family, friends and colleagues. Her professional nursing education career involved being on a research team, and she presented academic work in The United Kingdom and Europe. She ultimately applied her gentle nursing skills as a volunteer assisting with the care of quadruplets in a Mankato home. She loved children and would spend every Tuesday at the home of two of her grandsons when they were young. These boys referred to Tuesdays as "Grandma Day". She loved her grandchildren and named a stuffed bear after her first four grandchildren Ruby, Brandon, Alec and Zak. The bear's name is Braz. Her memory will live on forever in the soul of that bear who has a spirit which will endure over tme. Children were always at the center of her spirit.
There will be a memorial celebration at a time in the spring when the lilacs are in season; Pat's favorite flower.